Is the West overestimating China's military capabilities, just as it did with Russia?
China's focus is shifting to anti-corruption within the People's Liberation Army (PLA), say experts from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS).
The body says reorganisation, reform and anti-corruption are the main themes behind China's military modernisation goal for 2035.
So, is the Western world overestimating China's military capabilities, just as it did with Russia before its invasion of Ukraine?
This echoes criticism of Russia's military, deemed by many the second most powerful in the world, before an invasion that's proved far more difficult and draining than it expected.
Meia Nouwens, who heads up the China programme at the IISS, said: "There is, of course, the question as to whether or not we're overestimating the PLA's capabilities – they remain untested.
"If we think about reports and open source about where corruption in the PLA rocket force took place – such as many changing hands during procurement processes and certain missiles being filled with water instead of fuel – that calls into question, if you are China's leader, the actual readiness of a force that is of strategic importance."
While there are similarities in culture, the expert warns China's objectives differ from Russia's, and corruption is a hurdle, not a deal breaker.
"I would caution to say that that isn't exactly transferable from what we've seen in terms of Russia's performance in Ukraine.
"At the end of the day, the PLA has been modernising for and seeks to exercise towards a capability development that is relevant to one specific scenario, and that is a Taiwan contingency, if at all required."
Ms Nouwens says China does remain the pacing threat to the West, and suggests corruption could seek to remove those opposing defence reform.
So, the military may actually benefit from illegitimate activity.
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